PSAT, SAT, ACT

It is never too early to start utilizing the free online guides and tips for the ACT and SAT. These college entrance exams are very important in qualifying you for merit based scholarships and helping you secure a spot in your chosen college or university.

We Recommend:

Taking the ACT/SAT Prep Course offered at ALA your sophomore year

Obtain FREE test-prep materials from your counselor

Log on to the websites below, create an account, and have access to numerous ACT and SAT test helps. Including, mock tests, question of the day, and test day tips.

Test Date

Registration Deadline

Late Registration

Test fee per test option

ACT (No Writing)

$42.50: Includes reports for you, your high school, and up to four college choices (if valid codes are provided when you register).

ACT (With Writing)

$58.50: Includes reports for you, your high school, and up to four college choices (if valid codes are provided when you register). The $16.00 writing test fee is refundable, on written request, if you are absent on test day or switch to the ACT (No Writing) before testing begins.

The PSAT is a test designed very similarly to the SAT. It gives you the best idea of what the questions are like and the timing of each section. It has also proven to increase your SAT test score. Not only is taking the PSAT beneficial for preparing for the SAT, it can also qualify you for national scholarships. ExamFocus.com will serve as a great test prep, especially if you are interested in qualifying for the scholarships.

Scholarships & Recognition

By taking the PSAT/NMSQT, you may qualify to enter the competitions for prestigious scholarships and participate in recognition programs.

National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC)

Students in the eleventh grade of high school enter NMSC competitions by taking the PSAT/NMSQT, which serves as an initial screen of approximately 1.5 million entrants each year, and by meeting published program entry and/or participation requirements. NMSC uses the Selection Index score (the sum of the critical reading, mathematics, and writing skills scores) on the PSAT/NMSQT as an initial screen of program entrants and to designate groups of students to be honored in the competitions it conducts.

National Hispanic Recognition Program (NHRP)

Our National Hispanic Recognition Program (NHRP) was initiated in 1983 to identify outstanding Hispanic/Latino high school students and to share information about you with interested colleges and universities. In order to be eligible, you must be at least one-quarter Hispanic/Latino as defined by the NHRP, meet the minimum PSAT/NMSQT cutoff score for your state, and achieve a minimum grade point average (GPA) requirement. (Note: This program is not conducted by NMSC.)

Learn more about qualifying for the NHRP and how it can help you get into college.

National Scholarship Service (NSSFNS)

The NSSFNS offers a free college advisory and referral service for students who plan to attend two-year or four-year colleges. Scores are sent for students in eleventh grade who indicate that they are African American. (Note: This program is not conducted by NMSC.)

For more information, write to:

National Scholarship Service

980 Martin Luther King Drive, SW, PO Box 11409, Atlanta, GA 30310

The Telluride Association

The Telluride Association offers scholarships to gifted juniors for summer seminars in the humanities and social sciences. (This program is not conducted by NMSC.)

At ALA, we combine academic excellence and character development to create an exceptional educational experience. Our students are prepared to not just be the great students of today, but the great leaders of tomorrow.